Good liberal arts colleges that give merit scholarships

Kipliinger’s lists quite a few:
https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=lib_arts

(You can click-sort on either of the two “non-need-based” columns).

Merit awards at these schools typically are competitive, not automatic for specific qualifying stats. In some cases, the awards may cap out at half of COA, or lower. Even with an above-average award, your net cost might be above in-state public school costs (but perhaps competitive with some OOS public school sticker prices)